Nagpur: Youth Congress leader Ketan Thakare has said that vote polarisation caused by parties such as the Vanchit Bahujan Aaghadi (VBA), Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) often affects the vote share of the Indian National Congress (INC) in urban elections.

Speaking in an interaction with Nagpur News, Thakare observed that the division of votes among like-minded parties weakens the Congress’s electoral prospects, particularly in closely contested civic polls such as the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) elections.

Clarifying why he chose not to contest the upcoming NMC elections, Thakare said several senior leaders from the party were already in the race. “There were experienced and senior party members contesting, and I felt it was appropriate to step aside and support the organisation,” he said.

Ketan Thakare, who played a key role in supervising the recent political campaign of his father, Vikas Thakare, the MLA from West Nagpur, said the experience proved to be an important learning phase for him as a young politician. He added that working at the grassroots level during the campaign helped him better understand voter concerns and organisational dynamics.

Expressing confidence ahead of the civic polls, Thakare said he was optimistic about the Congress party’s performance and claimed that the party was on course to secure a clear majority in the NMC elections.

Commenting on the sudden end of the proposed poll alliance with the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Shiv Sena (UBT), Thakare said multiple rounds of discussions were held on seat-sharing arrangements. However, he explained that the demands of all parties involved could not be mutually accommodated.

“Despite several talks, a consensus could not be reached, which is why the Congress has decided to go solo and contest all 151 seats in the Nagpur Municipal Corporation,” he said.

The Congress’s decision to contest independently is being seen as a strategic move as political equations continue to shift ahead of the crucial urban local body elections in Maharashtra.